Apparatus for simultaneously drilling and tapping a plurality of work pieces at each of a plurality of positions

ABSTRACT

The apparatus, intended primarily for simultaneously drilling and tapping a plurality of work pieces at each of a plurality of working positions includes an annular table supporting a plurality of tapping and drilling assemblies at a plurality of spaced working positions. Rotably mounted within the annular table support is a turret having a plurality of radial arms on which are supported retractible work supporting shuttles movable toward and from working positions adjacent the tapping and drilling assemblies mounted on the annular table. Means are provided for rotating the turret to successive working positions. A novel clamp and positioning means are mounted on the shuttles for holding and accurately positioning a work supporting cartridge. Novel multiple spindle tapping and drilling assemblies permit tapping and drilling from different angles, simultaneously of a plurality of rigidly held work pieces mounted on the shuttles.

United States Patent Hoglund APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DRILLING ANDTAIPING A PLURALITY OF WORK PIECES AT EACH OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONSRelated US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 118,218, Feb. 24,1971. Pat. No. 3,733,142, which is a division of Ser. No. 763.043, Feb.24. l97l. abandoned.

Inventor:

Assignee:

[ Mar. 19, 1974 3,336,823 8/1967 Bonzi 408/7l Primary E.raminerFrancisS. Husar 5 7 ABSTRACT The apparatus, intended primarily forsimultaneously drilling and tapping a plurality of Work pieces at eachof a plurality of working positions includes an annular table supportinga plurality of tapping and drilling assemblies at a plurality of spacedworking positions. Rotably mounted within the annular table support is aturret having a plurality of radial arms on which are supportedretractible work supporting shuttles movable toward and from workingpositions adjacent the tapping and drilling assemblies mounted on theannular table. Means are provided for rotating the turret to [52] US. Cl..-408/44, 10/128, 29/38 C, 408/71 successive working positions. A novelclamp and posi- 511 Int. Cl B23b 39/20 timing means are the Shuttleshlding 58 Field of Search 408/43, 44, 4'9, '50, 53, and accurately P 8suppwing 408/70 71; 29/38 C; 10/128 129, 130 tridge. Novel multiplespindle tapping and drilling assemblies permit tapping and drilling fromdifferent an- [56] Reerences Cited gles, simultaneously of a pluralityof rigidly held work UNITED STATES PATENTS pieces mounted on theshuttles. 1.529.267 3/1925 M ers 29/38 C 2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figuresand [1E] E 16 Z! r a L l a 3 -s i i 2/ i 7 62 i? 5 U 22 4 I fi smz in! LPATENTEDHAR 19 1914 3791.957

sum 01 ur11 PAIENTED HAR 9 1914 sum new 11 PATENTEUHAR 1 9 19143,797,957

PAIENTED MAR 19 m4 sum as 0F 11 PATENTEUHAR 1 91914 SHEU 07 0F 11PATENTEDMAR 19 I974 sum -oaur11' saw 10 or 11 ffy. 10.

APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DRILLING AND TAPPING A PLURALITY OF WORKPIECES AT EACH A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS This is a division, ofapplication Ser. No. 118,218 (now US. Pat. No. 3,733,142) filed Feb. 24,1971 which is, in turn, a divisional of Ser. No. 763,043, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present equipment such as in line equipmentis not normally designed to process at one working station more than onework piece nor generally to perform more than one operation at eachworking station. In line equipment requires much space to accomodate thedifferent working positions. A work piece has to be moved manually fromthe last working position for further processing or packaging.Registering a work piece with its working position is difficult. Linkchains carrying the work holder of fixture which chains are usually usedon in line equipment have stretch and wear and thus particularly whereextreme accuracies are required in line equipment is not satisfactory.Turret machines presently available have very complicated mechanisms tocarry the work pieces to a working position and are incapable ofperforming multiple operations on a plurality of work pieces in a singleworking position. Equipment for performing working operations from allsides: that is from all sides of the work piece as well as the top andbottom without rotating the work piece from a fixed position in afixture have not heretofore been available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus which is capable ofsimultaneously drilling and tapping a plurality of work pieces at eachof a plurality of work positions includes an annularly shaped supportingtable. This table provides a work loading position and supports aplurality of spaced drilling and tapping assemblies at spaced workingpositions there around. A rotatable work supporting turret is positionedcentrally of the annular tool assembly supporting table. It is providedwith a plurality of radially directed slide guides.

Slidably mounted on the guides are retractable shuttles which can bemoved into work positions adjacent the tool assemblies when the turretis indexed to successive working positions. The work pieces are securedto cartridges or fixtures which are releasably clamped to the shuttles.Each cartridge supports a plurality of work pieces. The clamps areautomatically released at the discharge position when all operations arecompleted on the work pieces. Means on the shuttles and on the annulartable contact the cartridge for very accurately positioning the workpieces.

Novel multiple tool drilling assembleys make it possible to side tapwork pieces where the directions of drilling may be done horizontally atangles to each other. A plurality of spindles parallel to each other arecarried in a common housing and are offset successively. A common driverotates all spindles at the same speed of rotation. Other means advancethe tools quickly to working position and retract them rapidly afterdrilling operations are completed.

The multiple tool tapping assemblies having some of the features of thedrilling tool assemblies include means for accurately and rapidlypositioning the bank of tapping tools against the work pieces forexpediting tapping operations.

The timing of indexing is such that both the drilling and tappingoperations at all stations are completed and the shuttles retractedbefore indexing takes place.

The movement of the drilling assemblies and the tapping assemblies arecontrolled by circuits which are controlled by trippers and switchesresponsive to the movement of the assemblies.

This Application is a division of my Application, Ser. No. 763,043,filed Aug. 9, 1968.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings,

FIGS. 1a and lb show a plan view of a complete machine assemblyincorporating my invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showingdetails of construction,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partially in section showing details ofconstruction of a multiple drill assembly made according to myinvention,

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a left end view of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a section taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing details of the retractor.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a pair of drill assemblies shown at Station 2of the complete assembly with a shuttle in working position,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the multiple tapping assembly madeaccording to my invention and partially in section to show details ofconstruction,

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 10,

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic control circuit diagram for the drilling assemblyas tied in with the indexing circuit, and

FIG. 12 is a schematic control circuit diagram for the tapping assemblyas tied in with the indexing circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, oneform of apparatus made according to my invention includes an annulartool assembly supporting table 20. There are six positions or stationson the 'table, but more or less could be provided.

At station I the'shuttles are loaded with the work filled cartridge andalso unloaded after all operations are completed.

At station 2, there are provided two banks or drilling assemblies 21 and22 which will be described in greater detail below. It will be notedthat the spindles are mounted at an angle to each other and to thecenter line passing through the work pieces for side drilling. One setof drills completes its drilling operation before the second set beginsoperations to prevent drills contacting each other particularly if smallwork pieces are involved.

At station 3 vertical and horizontal drilling operations take place.Drilling assembly 23 is mounted for vertical movement on guides or ways24 and 25. The other drilling assembly 26 provides for horizontaldrilling.

At station 4, the tapping assembly 27 taps from the top and the drillingassembly 28 drills from the side.

At station the work pieces are drilled from the top by assembly 29, andfrom the side by the drill assembly 30. Reaming can also be done insteadof drilling.

At station 6, the last working position, tapping is done from the top bytapping assembly 31, horizontally by tapping assembly 32, and drillingis done from the side by drilling assembly 33.

Rotatably mounted within the central opening of the annular table 20, isthe turret 35, provided with the radially directed work supporting slideguides 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 each of which supports a shuttle 42,43, 44, 45, 46 and 47. These shuttles support and have clamped thereonduring working operations work loaded cartridges 50, 51,52. 53, 54 and55. These shuttles and cartridges are described and claimed in acopending application. An air manifold 56 provides the air for operatingair cylinders 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 which function to move theshuttles into work operating positions.

Switches and tripping mechanisms for controlling operation of thedrilling assemblies and tapping assemblies will be described below.

DRILLING ASSEMBLIES The drilling spindle assembly comprises two majorsubassemblies relatively movable with respect to each other. Both areslidably mounted on the same base. One sub-assembly includes the drillbushings which are rapidly advanced into working position closelyadjacent the work pieces and then remain stationary. The drillingspindle sub-assembly includes the spindles and drills and is movedforward with the bushing subassembly initially. When the bushingsub-assembly comes to rest. a rotating cam and a contacting followerelement come into operation to advance the drills. A driving motorconnected to drive the drills is energized when the bushing sub-assemblyreaches its working position. After the drilling operations arecompleted the entire drill spindle assembly is'retracted. Theseoperations are controlled by circuits operated by properly placedswitches and trippers or dogs.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the assembly, for example 21supported on the annular table 20, includes a base 70, supporting a pairof shafts or supporting guides 71 and 72. The drill bushings 73, 74, 75and 76 are mounted on a bushing plate or slide support 77 slidablysupported on the guide 71 and 72 by a pair of ball bushing blocks 78 and79 being shown.

A housing 80 supports the drill spindles 81, 82, 83 and 84 in ballbearing assemblies as shown (FIG. 4). The spindles are provided with thedrive pulleys 85, 86, 87 and 88. These spindles are driven by motor 89by means of belt 90 which engages the drive pulleys 85, 86, 87 and 88 aswell as idler pulleys 90, 91 and 92.

The housing 80 is slidably supported on guides 71 and 72 by means offour ball bearing bushing blocks two of which 93 and 94 are mounted onguide 71. The other two on guide 72 are not shown (FIG. 3). Thus it willbe seen that the bushing plate 77 and housing 80 are independentlyslidable on the guides 71 and 72.

The bushing mounting plate 77 and the spindle housing 80 are movedtoward the work piece together by means of a hydraulic cylinder. Whenthe bushings are in their work position further movements toward thework pieces is stopped as will be described below. This movement towardthe work position is made rapidly. At this point a cam which contacts afollower on the spindle housing 80, is caused to rotate. The spindlehousing is moved toward the work pieces for causing the drills to moveinto the work pieces. When drilling operations are completed the drillsand bushings are automatically retracted.

The mechanism for advancing the bushing and drill assembly rapidly toworking position includes (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) a hydraulic cylinder 95.The cylinder is fastened to the base by means of bracket 96. The pistonrod 97 is connected to the drill housing by a block 98. When the pistonis energized to move the housing to the right (FIGS. 3 and 4) thefollower 99 fixed to the housing 80 comes in contact with a high spot onthe cam 100 attached to the driving shaft of driving motor 101. At thispoint motor 101 is energized causing the cam 100 to rotate. Sincehydraulic cylinder biases the follower 99 against the cam 100, becauseof the cam shape the drill housing moves to the right and the drillsadvance through the bushings to perform drilling operations. Uponcompletion of drilling the drills are retracted and the drill housing 80and bushing plate 77 are returned to these initial positions. The drillsare fed in and out slowly.

To precisely position the bushings at their forward working position,there is attached to the bushing mounting plate 77, a rod 110 slidablethrough a block 111 fixed to base 70. Fixed to rod 110 is a screw 112,cooperating with a cup shaped stop nut 113. This stop nut uponengagement with block 111 prevents further movement of the busingmounting plate toward the work pieces. The limiting position of thebushing plate can be varied by repositioning stop nut 113 on screw 112.This arrangement permits minute and accurate positioning of the bushing.As will be described hydraulic piston continues to bias the drillhousing 80 to the right (FIG. 3) maintaining follower 99 against camwhich on rotating presents a shorter radius to the follower so that thedrills can move into the work piece.

Means are provided on housing 80 for retracting the bushing plate 77when the housing is retracted to its non-working position. As shown inFIG. 6, a bracket 102 having an apertured plate 103 is attached tohousing 80. A rod 104 passes slidably through plate 103 and is securedto the bushing plate 77. A compression spring 105 is mounted on the rodor spring guide 104. When forward movement of the bushing plate isstopped by stop nut 113, housing 80 can continue forward movementrelative to plate 77, spring 105 being compressed and holding bushingplate forward. When the housing 80 is retracted plate 103 engages thehead 106 of rod 104 retracting bushing plate 77.

TAPPING ASSEMBLIES The tapping assembly includes a slide housingrotatably supporting a plurality of tapping spindles and a rotatablelead screw all driven from a common drive. The housing is slidablysupported on a pair of case shafts or guides mounted on a base. A slidemounted on one of the guides has fixed thereto and supports a lead screwnut engaging the lead screw on the housing. A hydraulic cylinder mountedon the base is connected to the lead screw nut supporting slide andcontrols rapid movement toward and from the work position of the housingslide to position the tappers in their operating position. The leadscrew then causes feeding of the plurality of tappers into the workpieces.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 the tapping spindle assembly includes abase 130 supporting a pair of case shafts or guides 131 and 132. Atapping spindle assembly slide housing 133 is supported on guides 131and 132 by means of ball bushing blocks 134 and 135 mounted on guide 131and two others (not shown) mounted on guide 132.

Mounted within the housing 133 are a plurality of ball bearing supportedtapping spindles 136, 137, 138 and 139. Also rotatably supported inhousing 133 is the lead screw 140. The tapping spindles and lead screw140 are provided with worm gears 141, 142, 143, 144 and 145 for drivingthe tappers and the lead screw to advance the tappers simultaneously atthe proper rate of rotation to produce the desired pitch.

A worm shaft 146, has mounted thereon and secured thereto driving wormwheels 147, 148, 149, and 150 and 151. Shaft 146 is driven by pulley 152connected to motor 153 by belt 154.

Mechanism is provided for rapidly moving the housing 133 and tappingspindles to initial working position and then starting tappingoperations.

Mounted on guide 131 by means of ball bearing supported slide 156 is thenon-rotatable lead screw nut 157. Also mounted on slide 156 is thebracket 158 carrying an adjustable stop screw 159. Contact between stopscrew 159 and rest button 160 mounted on the base limits movement of thetapping assembly housing toward the work pieces. A hydraulic cylinder161 is pivotally attached to the base 130 by yoke 162. The piston rod ofhydraulic cylinder 161 is attached to slide 156 by means of bracket 158.

When the assembly is in its retracted positidn there is no contactbetween stop screw 159 and rest button 160. Also since slide 156 isconnected to lead screw 140 by means of lead screw nut 157 action ofhydraulic cylinder 161 will move the housing assembly between retractedposition and starting position at any rapid desired speed depending uponspeed of operation of the hydraulic cylinder.

When the stop screw 159 contacts stop button 160 on base 130, furthermovement of the housing toward the work pieces ceases. At this pointrotation of the motor 153 begins causing rotation of the tappers and thelead screw to advance the housing 133 toward the work pieces. Whentapping operations cease the tappers and lead screw are reversed withdrawing the tappers and moving the housing to retracted position.Switches and controlling elements for these operations will be describedbelow.

CIRCUIT AND CONTROLS FOR THE DRILLING ASSEMBLY Reference is made toFIGS. 4, 5 and 11. The mechanical trip switches as shown in thesefigures are identified by the same letter symbols. As the drillingassembly including the drill bushing sub-assembly and the drillingspindle sub-assembly moves toward and from operating positions, trippersactivate the various switches for controlling relays and solenoids forenergizing the hydraulic cylinders and motor governing the operation ofthe drilling sub-assemblies.

The drilling circuit operation is described below. The successive stepsare indicated in the diagram shown in FIG. 11 by the numerals 1 to 12 onthe left hand side of the diagram.

I. Table Turret Indexes A During index cycle, relay ILR latches. B ILRcontact closes, energizing I-ILR unlatch coil. C IR contact closes,energizing FLR unlatch coil.

2. F LR & I-ILR contacts close.

3. At end of index, IR contact closes, completing circuit to energizeFixture Out solenoid.

4. When the fixture reaches Out position it closes the FOLS switch,energizing Bank In solenoid.

5. When the bank (assembly) reaches In position BILS switch closesenergizing CRF 1 and CRF2 relays.

6. CRFl & CRF2 contacts close, energizing Cam Forward solenoid.

7. The Cam causes the bank to move into the work pieces. When bankreaches maximum In position it closes BRLS switch energizing BRRl andBRR2 relays.

8. BRRl & BRR2 contacts close energizing Bank Out solenoid.

9. As bank reaches maximum Out position it contacts BOLS switch.energizing SPRl & SPR2 relays.

l0. SPRl and SPRZ contacts close, energizing BOR relay.

ll. BOR contact closes, energizing Fixture In solenoid.

12. As the fixture moves to In position, FRLS switch is contacted, whichin turn energizes the FRLR latch relay thereby completing the indexcircuit.

The BILS switch is operated by the dog 185 carried on the bushing plateassembly 77. Switch BRLS is operated by the dog 186 carried on thedrilling subassembly housing. Switch BOLS is also activated by dog 186.

CIRCUIT AND CONTROLS FOR THE TAPPING ASSEMBLY Reference is made to FIGS.8, 9 and 12.

The tapping operation is described below. The steps are indicated inFIG. 12 by the numerals l to 17 on the left hand side of the diagram.

I. Table Indexes A During index cycle, relay ILR latches.

B ILR contact closes, energizing HLR unlatch coil.

C IR contact closes, energizing FLR unlatch coil.

2. FLR and l-ILR contactsclose.

3. At end of index, IR contact closes. completing circuit to energizeFixture Out solenoid.

4. When the fixture reaches Out position the FOLS switch closes,energizing the Bank In solenoid.

5. When the bank (assembly) reaches In position BILS switch is closed,energizing CRFl and CRFZ relays.

6. CRH and CRF2 contacts close, energizing the Tap Forward solenoid.

7. The Tap Forward solenoid causes the hydraulic motor to rotate thefeed screw which drives the taps into the work pieces.

8. As the taps reach maximum In position. the bank contacts the TRLSswitch which energizes the TRL latch coil.

9. TLR contact opens deenergizing tap forward solenoid.

l0. TLR contact closes energizing tap reverse solenoid.

l 1. Tap feed screw reverses until bank contacts TSLS switch which stopstap.

12. Other side of TSLS switch closes and energizes BRRl relay.

l3. BRRl contacts close energizing the Bank Out solenoids.

14. As the bank reaches maximum Out position BOLS switch is closedenergizing SPRl relay.

l5. SPRl contacts close, energizing BOR relay.

l6. BOR contact closes, energizing Fixture ln solenoid.

17. As the fixture moves to In position the FRLS switch is contacted,which in turn energizes the FRLR latch relay thereby completing theindex circuit.

The BILS switch is operated by the dog 180 mounted on slide [56. SwitchTRLS is actuated by 'dog 181 mounted on the lead screw nut 157. SwitchTSLS is actuated by the dog 182 mounted on the housing 133 and switchBOLS is actuated by the dog 183 also mounted on the housing 133.

What is claimed is:

l. Drilling and tapping apparatus for simultaneously drilling andtapping a plurality of work pieces at each of a plurality of positionsand for simultaneously moving a plurality of work pieces from each ofsaid plurality of positions to successive positions. including:

a. a stationary table support having an opening therethrough;

b. a plurality of banks of drilling and tapping tools supported on saidtable support at each of a plurality of angularly spaced apart workingstations. each bank being mounted for movement between a non-workingretracted position and a working posinon;

c. a rotatable turret positioned in the opening within said tablesupport;

d. a plurality of work piece carrying shuttle and slide guide assembliesmounted on said turret at angularly spaced apart positions correspondingto the angular spacing between said banks, each shuttle being movablealong its slide guide between a nonworking retracted position and aworking position relative to the respective bank on said table support;

e. means for moving each shuttle from said nonworking to said workingposition to move the work piece into working position;

f. means for rotating said turret to move each shuttle and slide guideassembly into alignment with the tool banks at the next working station;and

g. means for moving each bank of tools from its working to itsnon-working position simultaneously with movement of said work piececarrying shuttle from non-working to working position at the respectiveworking station.

2. Drilling and tapping apparatus for simultaneously drilling andtapping a plurality of work pieces at each of a plurality of positionsand for simultaneously moving a plurality of work pieces from each ofsaid plurality of positions to successive positions. including:

a. a stationary annular table support having a central openingtherethrough;

b. a plurality of banksof drilling and tapping tools supported on saidtable support at each of a plurality of angularly spaced apart workingstations for simultaneously drilling and tapping holes in differentsurfaces of said work piece at the respective station, each bank beingmounted for movement between a non-working retracted position and aworking position;

c. a rotatable turret positioned in the opening within said annulartable support;

d. a plurality of work piece carrying shuttle and guide assembliesmounted on said turret at angularly spaced apart positions correspondingto the angular spacing between said banks, each shuttle being movablealong its slide guide between a nonworking retracted position on saidguides and a working position relative to the respective bank on saidtable support, each shuttle being adapted to removably support a workpiece thereon;

e. means for moving each shuttle from said nonworking to said workingposition to move the work piece into working position; means forrotating said turret to move each shuttle and slide guide assembly intoalignment with the tool banks at the next working station; and g. meansfor, moving each bank of tools from its working to its non-workingposition simultaneously with movement of said work piece carryingshuttle from non-working to working position at the respective workingstation.

s 1 t w

1. Drilling and tapping apparatus for simultaneously drilling andtapping a plurality of work pieces at each of a plurality of positionsand for simultaneously moving a plurality of work pieces from each ofsaid plurality of positions to successive positions, including: a. astationary table support having an opening therethrough; b. a pluralityof banks of drilling and tapping tools supported on said table supportat each of a plurality of angularly spaced apart working stations, eachbank being mounted for movement between a non-working retracted positionand a working position; c. a rotatable turret positioned in the openingwithin said table support; d. a plurality of work piece carrying shuttleand slide guide assemblies mounted on said turret at angularly spacedapart positions corresponding to the angular spacing between said banks,each shuttle being movable along its slide guide between a non-workingretracted position and a working position relative to the respectivebank on said table support; e. means for moving each shuttle from saidnon-working to said working position to move the work piece into workingposition; f. means for rotating said turret to move each shuttle andslide guide assembly into alignment with the tool banks at the nextworking station; and g. means for moving each bank of tools from itsworking to its non-working position simultaneously with movement of saidwork piece carrying shuttle from non-working to working position at therespective working station.
 2. Drilling and tapping apparatus forsimultaneously drilling and tapping a plurality of work pieces at eachof a plurality of positions and for simultaneously moving a plurality ofwork pieces from each of said plurality of positions to successivepositions, including: a. a stationary annular table support having acentral opening therethrough; b. a plurality of banks of drilling andtapping tools supported on said table support at each of a plurality ofangularly spaced apart working stations for simultaneously drilling andtapping holes in different surfaces of said work piece at the respectivestation, each bank being mounted for movement between a non-workingretracted position and a working position; c. a rotatable turretpositioned in the opening within said annular table support; d. apluralIty of work piece carrying shuttle and guide assemblies mounted onsaid turret at angularly spaced apart positions corresponding to theangular spacing between said banks, each shuttle being movable along itsslide guide between a non-working retracted position on said guides anda working position relative to the respective bank on said tablesupport, each shuttle being adapted to removably support a work piecethereon; e. means for moving each shuttle from said non-working to saidworking position to move the work piece into working position; f. meansfor rotating said turret to move each shuttle and slide guide assemblyinto alignment with the tool banks at the next working station; and g.means for moving each bank of tools from its working to its non-workingposition simultaneously with movement of said work piece carryingshuttle from non-working to working position at the respective workingstation.